Vending machine for bulk edibles



July 14, 1931. A. A. KNEE VENDING MACHINE FOR BULK EDIBLES 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1929 June-H106 1 21. 47 5 A. A. KNEE July 14, 1931.

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/ VENDING MACHINE FOR BULK EDIBLES Filed Feb. 18, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 W I"- llm mum HI 0 (if? O Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES AARON A. KNEE,

PATENT OFFICE OF CKARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, .ASSIGNOR TO THE LANCE PACK- ING COMPANY, 01? CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA VENDING MACHINE FOR BULK EDIBLES Application filed February 18, 1929. Serial No. 340,718.

This invention relates to a vending ma chine and more especially a vending machine adapted to vend bulk edibles, such as peanuts, almonds and any type of bulk ed1- bles, with such bulk edibles being contained in bags, and said bags being secured to a continuous strip of material.

An object of my invention is to provide a vending machine adapted to vend merchandise, said merchandise being secured in a continuous strip, and said vending machine being provided with means for severing one article at a time from the strip and delivering it tothe exterior of the machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a vending machine having a casing, a compartment within such casing in which merchandise is adapted to be stored, said merchandise being in ribbon form, with means for conducting the ribbon form of merchandise through the machine, together with means of severing one article of merchandise at a time and delivering the same to the exterior of the machine, together with means for hermetically sealingthe machine at all times except when one of the articles of merchandise is being delivered from the machine.

Some of the objects of my invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when pages in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of my vending machine;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the front portion of my machine taken along the line 22 in Figure 7 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the same line as Figure 2, but showing the parts in a different position;

Figure 4 is a view taken along the same line as Figure 2 showing more of the rear portion of the machine, and showing the parts in a still further advanced position than that shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of my mathe vending parts ina position similar to I Figure 4.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the base portion of my machine and the side portions are designated by the reference characters 11 and 12. The back portion is designated by the reference character 13, and when the cover is off of the machine, there is no front portion thereto, as the cover extends downward and covers the front portion except the exit portion, 15, through which the merchandise is delivered from the machine. The exit portion 15 has the bottom plate member 16, which has the outwardly projecting lug l7, and at the ends thereof are the upwardly projecting portions 18 and 19. Integral with the side members 18 and 19, and being parallelto the bottom member 16 is the member 20, which joins the top portion of the members 18 and 19, and in the backward portion thereof is a groove in which the gasket member 21 is secured and the backward surfaces of the members 18 and 19 slope rearwardly to the lug 22, which is secured on the bottom plate member 16 of the exit portion 15 and the gasket member 21a fits in behind this portion 22 and also against the backwardly sloping surfaces of the members 18 and 19, and against which the door 24 is adapted to fit, hermetically to seal the interior of the vending machine from outside influences, said door being pivoted at itsbottom in the curved member 25, the lower edge of the door having a curved portion 26, which fits in the curved portion 25, said curved portion 25 being secured on the backward portion of the bottom 16 of the exit portion. The front edge of the member 20 has a groove in which the gasket 27 is adapted to fit, and beneath the lower edge of the projection having the front groove, the lower portion of the cover 28 is adapted to fit with the gasket 29 fitting between the door and the lower edge of the forward projection 30 in which the gasket 27 is secured.

The front'edge of the members 11 and 12, and also 1e top edges thereof, and also the top edge of the back member 13 has the additional flange member 31 secured thereto leaving the groove 32 in which the gasket is adapted to fit. The cover portion 'is adapted to fit over the front portion and the top portion, and back over the rearward edge of the back portion, and this cover portion has the panes of glass 34 and 35 secured therein, the front glass which is designated by the reference character 34, and the top glass is designated by the reference character 35. These glass members are secured in position by means of clip members 36 and 37.

The bottom member 10 has the downwardly projecting member 38, which is adapted to fit flush against the forward edge of a table or a counter in order to hold the machine in proper position when the same is used on a counter, but in Figures 9 and 10 I have shown a modified form of my machine adapted to be secured to a vertical support such as a wall in which case this downwardly projecting portion is not necessary, and may be dispensed with.

The vending mechanism, is mounted in the front portion of the machine and is supported by the U-shaped frame member 50 which has the horizontal portion 51, and the side-portions 52 and 53, said side portions lying flush against the side portions of the casing designated by the reference characters 11 and 12.

The front edges of the U-shaped member projects flush with the front edges of the side members 11 and 12, and the bottom portion 51 of this U-shaped member has the nafrow slot 54, which is adapted to receive the knife which will be later described, and rearwardly of this narrow slot 54 is the wide slot 55, which is cut-away to permit the vending mechanism to operate properly.

The shaft 57 which has the crank arm 58 secured thereon, is mounted in the side portions of the U-shaped member designated by the reference characters 52 and 53, and one end thereof to which the crank is secured pierces the side member 11. This shaft 57 has the arms 59 and 60 secured thereon which project upwardly, and have the transversely disposed rod 61 fixedly secured there in, and on this rod is pivotally secured the knife 62 which knife is adapted to project through the slot 54 in the member 51. Lying flat against the lower side of the knife member is the pusher member 63 which has its end turned upward and inward to provide a groove in which the knife member is adapted to slide and on the end members which are designated by the reference characters ,64 and 65 are the projections 66 and 67, which projections fit into the slots 68 and 69 which are cut in the side portions 52'and 53. The pusher member 63 has the leaf spring member 70 secured on the back side thereof, which projects upwardly and has the semi-circular portion 71, which is adapted to normally rest over the rod 61, and this member 70 has the circular portion 72 on the end thereof, which is adapted to engage the rod 73, which extends from one side member 52 to the other side member 53, when the crank is turned all the way down, which causes the semi-circular portion 71 to be pushed backwardly thus disengaging the same from engagement with the rod 61, and the circular portion 72 will rest against rod 73, while the knife is pushed downwardly through the slot 54 in the member 51. The spring 74 is secured between the leaf spring 70 and the pusher 63 and the ends of this spring 74 pierce holes 75 and 76 in the rod 61. This spring is adapted to be compressed when the knife is forced down through the slot 53, and this spring then normally tends to bring the parts back to normal position with relation with each other.

These projections 66 and 67 reach the bottom of the slot in which they work, and this prevents the pusher member 63 from further downward movement, and holds the same While the knife member is pushed downwardly through the slot to sever the bag of nuts from the ribbon.

' The door 24 has the spring members 77 and 78 secured thereon, which project upwardly and backwardly, and normally tends to hold the peanuts to keep the same from falling through the large slot 55, and is especially adapted to operate when the last bag on the ribbon comes to the point of being delivered from the machine, these springs tending to keep this last bag from falling through into the lower part of the machine until the same is ready for delivery to the outside of the machine. These springs also tend to hold the bags in proper position for turning the same ready to be severed by the knife.

To the rear surface of the door is secured the projection 80, to which is pivotally secured the link 81, the rear end of this link 81 being pivotally secured to the lever 82, which lever 82 projects upwardly and. has its central portion secured on the rod 83, which is mounted in the side members 52 and 53, and spans the entire distance between them. The lever 82 projects upwardly then forwardly to a point above the main shaft 57 and the cam 84 on this shaft 57 is adapted to push the upper end of the lever 82 rearwardly to close the door, when the knife and pusher a re returned to normal position. A coiled spring 85 is secured to the lever 82 and also to the bottom portion 51, which spring tends to pull the lower portion of the lever 82 backwardly and therefore presses the upper portion thereof against the cam 81 at all times.

'lhe springs 77 and 78 are fixedly secured at their lower end to a transversely disposed rod 80, which rod is pivotally secured .to the rear portion of the door 24, in the backwardly projecting lugs 87 and 88, and a coiled spring 89 is secured to the door 24, and wrapped around the rod 86, and is then secured to the leaf spring member-s77 and 78, and this arrangement tends to hold the spring members 77 and 78 against the rear portion of the door normally.

Pivotally mounted in the upper portions of 52 and 53 is the rod 90, which rod 90 projects upwardly, forwardly, downwardly, laterally, and then upwardly, backwardly, downwardly and laterally to form a peculiarly shaped rod, pivoted at its ends in the said side portions 52 and 53, and at its center portion the weak coiled spring 91 is secured, and the other end of said spring is secured to the lever 82 by means of the hook 93, the purpose of this rod 90 being to assist in turning the lowermost bag of merchandise on the ribbon upwardly and assist 2' the other mechanism to hold the bag in position while it is being severed from the ribbon. It also assists in holding the ribbon of merchandise as it progresses downwardly through the machine. This rod 90 is 0perated by means of the cams 04 and 95 which are secured on the main shaft 57.

A flattened U-shaped member 96 is pivotally mounted in the side members 52 and 53 just below the slots 69 and 68, and this member rests at its central portion on the coiled spring 91, the purpose of this U- slraped member being to prevent the peanuts from being drawn upwardly in the machine by the retreating knife after the same has been severed from the ribbon.

Secured in the lower rear portion of the side portion 53 of the U-shaped member 50, is the bolt 100 on which the lever 101 is pivotally mounted, said lever projecting forwardly to near the front of the machine where it is pivotally connected to the link 102 which link projects upwardly and is connected to the crank 103, which is fixedly secured on the rod 104, which rod runs all the way across the machine between the portions 52 and 53, and is pivotally mounted in said portions 52 and 53, and secured on this rod are the leaf spring members 105 and 106, which spring members project downwardly, and rearwardly and are adapted to ress against the lower forward sides of the ower bags of peanuts. Pivotally secured to the rear portion of the lever 101 is the upwardly projecting member 107, which has the downwardly and forwardly extending lug 108, in which the coiled tension spring 109 is secured, the lower end of said tension spring being secured to a pin 1l0-in said lever 101, and the member 107, near its upper end has the' notch 111 therein, into, which the cam or bell crank 112 is adapted to fit, said bell crank 112 being fixedly mounted on the shaft 57, and having a pin in its outer en'd,'said pin being designated by the reference character 113, which pin is adapted to engage the slot 111, in the member 107. This bell crank also has the projection 114, which projects downwardly and backwardly into close proximity with the member 107 in normal position. The operation of the just described mechanism is as follows:

lVith the parts in normal position as shown in bold lines in Figure 2, and when the crank 58 has imparted thereto a slight movement this of course will raise the bell crank member upwardly and the pin 112' 105 and 106, and associated parts to quickly assume the position shown in Figure 3.

The coiled spring 115 is mounted around the shaft 57, and has one end thereof secured to said shaft 57, and the other end thereof is secured on the pin 116 in the member 53, the purpose of said spring being to tend to return the bag severing means to normal position after the crank 58 is released.

The rod 117 is mounted between the mem-' bers 52 and 53, and the purpose of this rod is to act as a brace, and also to limit the rearward movement of the arms 59 and 60.

The whole vending mechanism which is supported by the U-shaped member 50 is held in the casing by meansof the screws 118 which pierce the side portions 52 and 53 of the U-shaped member, and also the side members of the casing 11 and 12. i

To the rear of the vending apparatus I provide the compartment 120, which compartment is separated from the vending machinery by the member 121, which fits against the bottom member 10, and projects upwardly and a portion thereof fits flush against the upper edge of the members 52 and 53, and then it curves upwardly and then forwardly, and then downwardly, and fits into the notch 122, which notch occurs in the top of both members 52 and 53.

On the interior of the side members of the casing 11 and 12 are mounted the projections 123 and 124, which projections are adapted to support one end of the supporting platform 125, which is adapted to support the ribbon of bags as it travels to the vending apparatus. The support 125 extends forwardly and downwardly, and has hooks 125a on its lower end which fit over the rod 73, which spans the distance between the members 52 and 53, and it extends downwardly past this rod. The rear end of this supporting platform 125 has the downwardly projecting lugs 126 and 127, in which the reel member 128 is rotatably mounted. This reel member is adapted to fit the bags of merchandise, such as peanuts, which are secured to each other, and is adapted to turn as the ribbon of bags turns therethrough.

The flattened U-shaped member 130, is secured in the side-wall portions of the casing 11 and 12, in the upper front corner thereof, and the coiled spring 131 is secured there around, one end of the coiled spring being fixedly secured to the member 130, and the other end of the coiled spring being secured in the notch 132, in the side-wall 12. The purpose of this arrangement being to press against the ribbon of bags at all times, and prevent the same from backing u in the machine, and to hold the bags in a fixed position, while the vending apparatus is being operated, but the tension is so regulated as to allow the bags to be pulled downwardly past this member 130, when the vendingapparatus is operated to pull the bags down and to sever the end bag.

In the Figures 9 and 10 which I have shown a different arrangement of my machine so that it can be mounted on a wall or vertical support, the parts are the same throughout except that the compartment for holding the ribbon of peanuts and which is designated in all figures as 120 is located above the vending apparatus, and this necessitates the support member 125 being relatively short as to its upper or slanting portion, and being long as to its vertical portion, but the purpose of the whole device is the same, and the operation of the device is the same, and the vending apparatus is identical as that shown in the other figures.

It might be added that the glass front, and the support 125 are so spaced apart from each other as to cause the bags of peanuts to fit snugly therein, and this retards their downward progress, and prevents them from falling downwardly, but the fit is such as to allow this ribbon of bags to be pulled downwardly by the vending mechanism, but

the pressure on the bags is suchjas to prevent their movin downwardly of their own accord, even a ter the compartment has become exhausted, and the bags moving downwardly are not held back by a portion of the ribbon still being in the compartment 120.

The machine is so constructed by having the glass top and front portions as to render the merchandise visible at all times and also to permit the customer to watch the progress of the merchandise through the machine when the same is operated to vend an article of merchandise.

The spring 109 by being secured to 108 and 101 normally exerts a pull upwardly on lever 101 and this causes leaf spring members 105 and 106 to be pulled inwardly to cause the lowermost bag to clear the bottom portion 51 and thus render the bag easier to be turned.

The slots 68 and 69 are formed peculiarly to cause the pusher member 63 to engage the ribbon at a point between the bags, and

this peculiar formation is necessary, also to prevent the knife and pusher member from pushing the ribbon of bags upwardly as the said knife and pusher member return to normal position.

In the drawings and specification I have set fortha preferred embodiment of my invention, and although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vending machine adapted to vend merchandise, said merchandise being in the form of a ribbon of articles secured to each other, said vending machine comprising a casing, a compartment in said casing adapted to hold a ribbon of merchandise, a support for transversely supporting the merchandise, a vertically disposed guideway through which the ribbon of merchandiseis adapted to be propelled, a reciprocating pushing member adapted to push the merchandise into close proximity to a slot, a knife member slidably mounted with relation to the pusher member, said knife member being adapted to slide with relation to the pusher member after the pusher member has reached a point, to sever an article of merchandise from the said ribbon, and means for delivering the severed article of merchandise to the exterior of the machine.

2. In a vending machine, a casing, a compartment in said casing in which articles of merchandise are adapted to be stored, said articles of merchandise being secured to each other to form a continuous ribbon of merchandise, a reel mounted at the upper portion of said compartment, a support associated with said reel and being adapted 20 machine, a transversely for manipulating the lower end of the ribbon of merchandise to turn the said merchandise to a proper position, a vertically reciprocating knife and pusher member adapted to engage the merchandise to sever the last article of merchandise from the ribbon, and means for delivering the said merchandise to the exterior of the machine.

3. In a vending machine, a casing, a compartment in said casing in which a rlbbon of 1 articles secured to each other are adapted to be stored, means for conveying the ribbon of articles, upwardly and laterally through the machine, means for conveying the article of merchandise downwardl through the isposed shaft mounted in the machine, arms projecting from the said shaft, a pusher member pivotally mounted at the ends of said arms, a knife member slidably mounted with rela- 28 tion to the pusher member, means for delivering the end portion of the merchandise to a proper .position for engagement with the knife and pusher member, said pusher member being adapted to engage the mer- 30 chandise at a point where two articles of merchandise are contiguous to each other, said pusher member being adapted to hold the merchandise while the knife slides with relation to the pusher member and sever 85 the last article of merchandise on the ribbon, an exit portion for said machine, a door for said exit portion, means co-operating with the severing means adapted to open the door to cause the severed article to be delivered to the exterior of the machine when the severing means are operated, said door being adapted to close when the severing mechanism returns to normal position.

4. In a machine for vending bags of bulk edibles one at a time, said bags being secured to each other at their side portions to form a continuous ribbon, a casing, a support in the top of said casing, said support being adapted to support the ribbon lio'of bags as the same progress through the machine, a vertically disposed guide-way near the front portion of the machine, a delivery portion, a door for said delivery portion, a vending apparatus comprising a knife adapted to travel within slots arranged in side-wall portions of the machine, a pusher member associated with said knife and being slidably mounted with relation to said knife, leaf spring members adapted to turn the last article of merchandise on an the next to the last article on the ribbon, the knife being adapted to slide through a slot with relation to the pusher member to sever the last bag, the door being mounted for co-operation with the severing means, and being adapted to open while the severing operation is being completed to allow the severed bag to fall to the exterior of the-machine, said door being adapted to automatically close when the severing mechanism returns automatically to its former position.

5. In a vending machine adapted to vend articles of merchandise one at a time, with said articles of merchandise being secured to each other at their side portions toform a continuous ribbon, said vending machine comprising a casing, a compartment within said casing adapted to hold a ribbon of merchandise, means for delivering the ribbon of merchandise through the machine to a delivery portion, severing means adapted to sever the lowermost article from the ribbon, said severing means comprising a transversely disposed shaft, means for operating the shaft, arms secured on said shaft, a pusher and knife member pivotally secured on the end of said arm, means for turning one article in the ribbon of merchandise upwardly, means for holding the said last named article in position above a slot, the pusher and knife mechanism being adapted to engage the last article of merchandise where it joins a contiguous arti ole, the knife being adapted to slide with relation to the pusher, the exit portion having a door which is adapted to open at the time the knife is pushed to sever the last article of merchandise, said arrangement being adapted to hermetically seal the casing except when a bag is being delivered, and to automatically open to deliver the bags to the exterior of the machine, and being adapted to automatically close when the severing mechanism returns to normal posltion.

6. In a vending machine for vending one' to cause the same to be engaged by said pusher member, slots in the side walls of said casing in which-said pusher member is adapted to slide, a knife member adapted to travel with said pusher member and being slidably mounted with relation thereto, said knife and pusher member being adapted to engage a ribbon of merchandise at above the last article of merchandise and to hold the ribbon of merchandise in close proximity to said slot, means for sliding the knife with relation to the pusher to sever the lowermost article of merchandise, a door associated with said exit portion, means associated with said door and the severing mechanism for opening the same at the time the knife is moved to sever the article of merchandise to allow the article of merchandise so severed to fall to the exterior of the machine, said door being adapted to automatically close when the severing means returns to its normal position.

7. In a vending machine for vending bags of peanuts said bags being secured to a continuous ribbon and having their edges 7 contiguous to each other, means for progressing the ribbon of bags through the machine, means for severing the end bags from the ribbon and delivering the same to the exterior of the machine, the progressing means and severing means being slidably mounted with relation to each other, means for sealing the interior of the machine at all times except when a severed bag is to be delivered.

8. In a vending machine, a casing, a compartment in said casing, a guide way extending from said casing to the forward portion of said machine, said guide-way and compartment being adapted to support a plurality of articles of merchandise secured to each other, a slidable knife in said machine being adapted to be operated to sever the last article on the lower end of the ribbon as it passes through the machine, means slidablymounted with relation to said knife for automatically holding the article in position to be severed, means for delivering the article to the exterior the machine, and

' means for automatically closing the machine after the article has been delivered to the exterior of the machine.

9. A vending machine adapted to vend articles of merchandise secured to a continuous ribbon, the side portions of said articles being contiguous to each other, said vending machine comprising a casing having transparent top and front portions, a compartment in said casing, means for conveying the ribbon of merchandise from said compartment beneath the top and front portions, said ribbon of merchandise being visible at all times, a knife adapted to sever the end article from the ribbon of merchandise, a delivery portion for said machine, means for automatically opening the delivery portion to cause the severed article to be delivered to the exterior of the machine at the time the same is severed from the ribbon, and means co-operating with the severing means adapted to automatically close the machine when same to the exterior of the machine, means for sealing the interior of the machine at all times except when a severed bag is to be delivered.

11. A vending machine for bulk edibles comprising a casing, means for passing bags of bulk edibles secured to each other at their side portions to form a continuous ribbon through the machine, a transparent top and front portion to said machine, means for progressing the ribbon of bags of bulk edibles forwardly and downwardly through the machine beneath the transparent top and front portion, means for delivering the bags of bulk edibles from the machine one at a time, an exit portion to said machine, means for normally closing the exit portion at all times, means for automatically opening the exit portion to allow an article of merchandise to pass therethrough when the same is to be delivered by the machine, and means for automatically closing the machine after an article of merchandise has been delivered therefrom.

12; In a vending machine, adapted to vend articles of merchandise, a casing, a compartment in said casing, a transparent top and front portion to said casing, a support mounted beneath the top portion and in close proximity to the front portion forming a passageway between the support and the top and front portions through which a ribbon of merchandise is adapted to be passed after being led from the compartment, means for severing the lowermost article from the ribbon and delivering the same from the exterior of the machine.

13. In a vending machine, a casing, transparent top and front portions to said casing, means for progressing a ribbon of merchandise through the machine beneath the top and in close proximity to the said front portion, means for severing an article from the lower end of the ribbon and delivering it to the exterior of the machine, said severing means comprising a slidable knife and a pusher and holding member slidably mounted on said knife, and said delivering means comprising a pivoted door, connections between said door and the said knife for open- 7 ing said door when said knife assumes an operative position.

14. A vending machine adapted to vend articlesfrom a continuous ribbon, means for passing the ribbon through the machine and renderlng a large portion of the ribbon visible while the machine is being operated and rendering the ribbon also visible while the machine is in-operated, means for severing 1 articles of merchandise from the ribbon and delivering the same to the exterior of the machine, said severing means comprising a slidable knife and a pusher and holding member slidably mounted on said knife, and said delivering means comprising a pivoted door, connections between said door and the said knife for openingsaid door when said knife assumes an operative position.

15. In a vending machine for bulk edibles, said bulk edibles being in bags and said bags being secured to each other at their side portions to form a continuous ribbon, means for progressing the ribbon through the machine so as to render the same visible from the outside while the same is being progressed through the machine, means for severing one bag at a time from said ribbon, means for delivering one bag at a time to the exterior of the machine, said severing means comprising a slidable knife and a pusher and holding member slidably mounted on said knife, andsaid delivering means comprising apivoted door, connectlons between said door and the said lmife for opening said door when said knife assumes an operative position. 4

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

AARON A. KNEE. 

